\input rotate
\newbox\rotbox
\newbox\rottwo
%
\font\big=cmr17 scaled\magstep4
This is a \setbox\rotbox=\hbox{simple}\rotl\rotbox\ test of
\setbox\rotbox=\hbox{some}\rotu\rotbox\ rotation primitives that
\setbox\rotbox=\hbox{\big work}\rotr\rotbox.
Or maybe \setbox\rotbox=\hbox{\vrule height .2in width .2in}\rotl\rotbox\
not.
\bigskip
\centerline{\vbox{\offinterlineskip
\def\tablerule{\noalign{\hrule}}
\def\breather{height 2pt&&&&&&&&&&\cr}
\def\allfive#1{\breather
&\global\setbox\rottwo=\hbox{#1}\copy\rottwo&&%
\setbox\rotbox=\copy\rottwo\rotl\rotbox&&%
\setbox\rotbox=\copy\rottwo\rotu\rotbox&&%
\setbox\rotbox=\copy\rottwo\rotr\rotbox&&%
\rotf\rottwo&\cr
\breather\tablerule}
\offinterlineskip
\halign{\vrule#&\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&%
   \hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#\cr
\tablerule
\breather
&\strut Upside&&Leftside&&Downside&&Rightside&&Flipside&\cr
\breather\tablerule
\allfive{gnus}
\allfive{$-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}\over2a$}
\allfive{{\big A}}}}}%
\bye